Lot 98: MARY SMITH (American 1842-1878) HEN AND HER CHICKS

MARY SMITH (American 1842-1878) HEN AND HER CHICKS signed and dated " Mary Smith 1868 " bottom right, oil on canvas, laid on board 20 x 24 1/8 in. (50.8 x 61.3 cm). Note: Born at Rockhill, Pennsylvania on September 25, 1842 Mary Russell Smith, a member of the famous Smith family of painters was destined to be an artist from an early age. Indeed she painted her first oil painting when only aged 14 and was encouraged by her parents, Russell Smith and Mary Priscilla Wilson Smith, to become a professional artist. Her other childhood passions was raising poultry and this subsequently translated into the subject matter of her paintings. Such works, frequently exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, became much sought after in Philadelphia and even as far afield as England. Sadly she never enjoyed robust health and died tragically early in 1878 aged only 36. Her legacy was some three hundred paintings including these five lots from a private collection.